News

Imperial Bricks, the UK’s leading handmade brick supplier, has seen a 25% increase in sales compared to 2015/16’s trading year and a 20% increase in business growth due to the surge in demand for reclamation-style bricks. This demand is driven by builders’ merchants, architects and specifiers, developers and self-builders looking …

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has been shortlisted in no fewer than five categories in the Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards.  This is the fourth consecutive year that the BMF has been shortlisted in multiple categories of these prestigious awards, and they have set a new record in …

Crown Trade has launched a special promotion for its merchant stockists, designed to reward customers for joining Crown’s winning team this summer. Kicking off in June and closing at the end of August, the ‘Lucky Dip’ promotion offers merchants who order 100 litres of Crown Trade paint a fifty-fifty chance …

Baxi is sponsoring independent merchants PHS in this year’s VADO Rally. The annual event challenges members of the kitchen, bedroom and bathrooms industry to drive through Copenhagen, Namur, Amsterdam, Lüneburg and Malmo in a road-legal car worth under £500. Baxi has lent support to Aidan Forshaw, director of Plumbing and …

South Wales-based Brickability Group has expanded its business portfolio through the acquisition of five companies after receiving a £40m funding package from a banking syndicate led by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. The Bridgend-headquartered company has added Crest Brick and Roofing, a specialist brick and roofing tile importer, Crown & Roofing …

MKM Hartlepool’s Mick Sumpter has collected two prestigious awards on behalf of his charity as well as being bestowed the ‘Teesside Hero Award’ for his lifelong commitments. The recognised charity is the European Children’s Help Organisation (ECHO), of which Sumpter is a trustee. The charity, dedicated to helping disadvantaged children …

The addition of mandatory individual room temperature controls to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has been welcomed by heating and hot water specialists Worcester Bosch. The revision requires individual room temperature controls, such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), to be installed during the construction of new buildings, or …

Oxfordshire builders merchant AWBS has been awarded founder member status of the new Earned Recognition Scheme, the government’s programme to recognise companies with a proven track record in compliance and adherence to transport, driver and vehicle standards. Operated by the government’s Driver Vehicle Standard Agency, the new scheme was launched …

Over a dozen builders merchants and manufacturers are congratulating themselves on being picked for the 2018 edition of the Sunday Times 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. The publication is an annual celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. As well as …

Independent builders merchants firm Huws Gray has bought Armstrongs Builders Merchants based in Lower Bentham, Lancashire. The news comes purchase is just six weeks after their recent acquisition of Penrith Building Supplies and further expands Huws Gray’s reach in the North West. Armstrongs have been trading since 2003 and has …